An introduction to Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

This week, Calyx Global will publish our first rating for projects that reduce GHG emissions by reclaiming or replacing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). In this blog post, we’ll discuss the application and potential environmental harms of HFCs. We’ll also introduce the three methodologies currently applied by projects to mitigate these emissions. Because the American Carbon Registry (ACR) is the only registry with active HFC methodologies, our ratings only pertain to project locations within ACR’s scope: the United States, Canada and Mexico. 

What are HFCs and what role do they play in our everyday lives?

HFCs are a family of synthetically produced gases used in industrial, commercial and residential applications. Most people may not know how prevalent HFCs are today, but these chemicals are crucial components of refrigeration, air-conditioning, insulating foams and aerosol propellant applications. HFCs can likely be found in your fire extinguisher, your can of WD-40, your wall insulation and in a myriad of other household and industrial products. HFCs are broadly applied and facilitate many useful elements of our everyday lives. Even so, it is important to understand the threat HFCs pose to our environment and our climate.

The potential impact of HFCs

HFCs have an extreme warming effect when released into the atmosphere. The global warming potentials (GWPs) of HFC species can range from hundreds to tens of thousands times greater than carbon dioxide. To put this into perspective, according to the IPCC’s Sixth Annual Report one kilogram of HFC-23, a byproduct of refrigerant chemical processing, would have 14,600 times the effect on global warming as one kilogram of carbon dioxide (and approximately 523 times the effect as one kilogram of methane)[1].

In addition to their high GWP, HFCs are categorized as short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs). SLCFs remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter duration than carbon dioxide but have a far greater impact. These species alone are responsible for up to 45% of global warming[2]. The mitigation of SLCFs in the short term is essential to reducing the rate of global warming and protecting both ecosystems and people most vulnerable to near-term climate impacts.

A history of HFCs as the lesser of two evils

HFCs replaced ozone-depleting substances (ODS) as the second generation of fluorocarbons – a class of chemicals that contain fluorine and carbon atoms. Fluorocarbons have distinctive chemical properties that allow them to be applied across multiple sectors such as refrigerants, coolants, fire suppressants, propellants, semiconductors and other applications. 

ODS species consist of CFCs and HCFCs phased out by the Montreal Protocol due to their combination of high ozone-depleting potential and GWP. By contrast, HFCs, while still high in GWP, have no ozone-depleting potential. These substances, while still climate-negative, serve as a crucial stepping stone in the transition away from ODS and towards the third generation of low-GWP fluorocarbons. This new class of chemicals consists of low-GWP HFCs, hydrofluoroolefins, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, ammonia and water.

Current global efforts to curb HFC emissions

Global action is being taken to phase out HFCs under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The Kigali amendment was adopted in 2016 and proposes a phasedown schedule for all member nations to reduce HFC production and consumption by 80-85% by 2047. If the phasedown is successfully implemented globally, it could avoid up to half a degree of global warming by 2100[3].

Canada and the United States have ratified the Kigali Amendment and legislated the phasedown, among other measures, to decrease HFC dependency and minimize climate impact. Canada enforces the phasedown through the Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations Act (ODSHAR), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency orchestrates the phasedown under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM). Both countries have a step-wise phase-out plan to reduce HFC production and consumption to 15% of the 2013 baseline level by 2036. Mexico ratified the Kigali Amendment on September 25, 2018, but has not implemented clear phasedown measures.

Potential paths to decreasing HFC climate impact

In addition to government-mandated production and consumption phasedowns, alternative incentives exist to decrease future HFC emissions and expedite the transition to lower-GWP alternatives. HFC emissions can be reduced or avoided through the destruction, reclamation and replacement of HFC species. Destruction entails the decomposition of HFC species after recovery and use[4]. Reclamation involves recovering and reprocessing HFCs to virgin (newly made and unused) levels for reuse. Lastly, some projects carry out HFC replacement transition from the use of higher-GWP HFCs to lower-GWP alternatives.

Currently, ACR is the only registry issuing credits in the voluntary carbon market for HFC emission reduction projects. ACR’s methodologies are Transition to Advanced Formulation Blowing Agents in Foam Manufacturing and Use, Advanced Refrigeration Systems, and The Use of Certified Reclaimed HFC Refrigerants, Propellants, and Fire Suppressants. The first two cover replacement practices, whereas the latter pertains to reclamation activities.

Calyx Global has assessed risks associated with all three methodologies and will release new project ratings over the next few months, starting with a reclamation project this week. Stay tuned for a subscriber-only blog this week to see our three key takeaways from our initial assessment of HFC projects.

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[1] United Nations. (2023). IPCC AR6 WGI Report. Accessible at: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_Chapter_07_Supplementary_Material.pdf.

[2] Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development. (2013). Primar on Short-Lived Climate Pollutants. Accessible at: https://www.ccacoalition.org/sites/default/files/resources//PrimeronShort-LivedClimatePollutants23april2013EV.pdf.

[3] The European FluoroCarbons Technical Committee. (n.d.). What is the Kigali Amendment?. Accessible at: https://www.fluorocarbons.org/environment/climate-change/kigali-amendment/#:~:text=The%20Kigali%20Amendment%20to%20the,less%20than%200.1%20%C2%B0C.

[4] There are no active destruction methodologies within the VCM, so we are not yet assessing the GHG integrity and risks associated with HFC destruction.